Sunday Nov 11, 2007

Recently one of my American friends married a wonderful Chinese woman, and Buddy and I were honored when they asked us to officiate the Beijing ceremony. (They had multiple weddings all around the world so they could celebrate with all their friends and family.) Here's the homily we gave, in Chinese and English -

Aaron and Jia Ling, if your experience is anything like Buddy's and mine, your life as a Chinese-American couple is going to be as exciting as Disneyland and as rich as red silk. Some people say that international marriages are more difficult, and it's true that especially in the beginning, we did have a few arguments that 2 Chinese people or 2 American people probably wouldn't have. For example, we argued over whether we'd spend our first paycheck on a coffee machine or a rice cooker. Will we baptize our kids? Will we circumcise our son? Should breakfast be sweet or salty? Which is better: marble or carpet?

But once you get over those initial bumps, you'll find the many benefits of a cross-cultural marriage. For example you two will probably work very hard on communication - since you don't share a common native language you know this is one of your challenges as a couple. But since you focus on it more, you might actually communicate better than some couples who do share a native language.

We also found that in a cross-cultural marriage it's quite easy to maintain harmony between the extended family members because more often than not – they can't talk to each other!

As an international couple, you might find you have fewer opportunities for certain kinds of arguments anyway. For example you probably won't have to argue over whose family you'll spend Christmas Eve with. At Chinese New Year you won't be shuffling from his family to her family and back again. One day when you have kids, they'll get presents from Santa Claus at Christmas and a few weeks later at Chinese New Year they'll get hongbao from relatives. They'll know how to carve a pumpkin and they'll know how to make pot stickers. Aaron your parents will be able to teach your kids how to bake an apple pie and with any luck, Jia Ling's parents will potty train them before they're a year old.

It's exciting to think of all the challenges and benefits you two will experience in your years together. Please know that all of us, your friends and family, are always here for you if you need us. We'll be cheering for you, and we'll be watching you grow in your love for one another.

Sunday Sep 30, 2007

My family and I just won a trip to France! You know that contest I told you that my family and I were in? They just announced that we won!!! I can't believe it. Apparently it was the cell phone votes that put us over the top so many, many, many thanks to all of you who voted for us.

In addition to the trip to France we also get to use a Picasso car for a year.